Month: February 2016

On Friday, March 4, diners at Zesta Cucina will be served by Eisenhower High School students vying to be named “Mr. Eisenhower.” The candidates will be waiting tables to raise money for the Children’s Health Care Fund, which benefits child health care at Memorial Family of Services. Zesta Cucina will donate a portion of the restaurant’s proceeds that evening to help the students raise funds.

Eisenhower is one of five area schools participating in this year’s Children’s Miracle Network/YouthWorks pageants. Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital is the Children’s Miracle Hospital for this area. Child health care at Memorial Family of Services includes Children’s Village, Memorial’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit and Memorial’s Pediatric Unit.

In the months before their school’s pageant, contestants hold a variety of fundraising events to raise money for the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Efforts culminate on pageant night, when a winner will be named based on money raised, talent and other events that evening, which for Eisenhower will be 7 p.m., March 11, in the school’s auditorium.

Since the event was established in 2001, more than $800,000 has been raised for the Children’s Health Care Fund at Memorial.

If you have been diagnosed with Heart failure, which means your heart is not effectively circulating blood through your body. In some kinds of heart failure, the heart is weak and cannot push blood to the parts of the body that need blood.

Proper management of your heart failure is important and may prevent heart attack or stroke.

Use the following guidelines to monitor your health

You are “All Clear” in the GREEN ZONE if you have no shortness of breath, swelling, or weight gain and if there has been no decrease in your ability to maintain a normal activity level.

Proceed with “Caution” and call your physician if you are in the YELLOW ZONE. Symptoms include an increased in weight (2–3 lbs. in one day or 4–5 lbs. in past 5 days). Increased cough, swelling, shortness of breath with activity or chest pain. If you have increased the number of pillows needed to sleep or need to sleep in a chair, or if there is anything else unusual that is bothering you.

The RED ZONE is a “Medical Alert!” Call your physician immediately or CALL 911 if you have any of these symptoms.

There’s snow in the mountains, and many people in Yakima are ready to hit the slopes. But cold weather sports and activities are physically demanding. The best way to avoid injury is to start preparing your body in advance of those activities.

Some common winter sports injuries:
• For skiers, injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee are the most common. We also see lower leg breaks, such as to the tibia, and shoulder injuries – dislocations, separations.
• For snowboarders, statistics show most injuries occur with beginners because of the sport’s complexities. Injuries to the hand, wrist and upper extremities are the most common.

The biggest causes of those injuries:
• Going without rest
• Faulty equipment
• Allowing yourself to get dehydrated or fatigued – the classic “one last run”
• Going into areas that are above and beyond your ability level
• Failing to observe warning signs and going off-trail
• Less likely in our region – an inability to adjust to the altitude

Additional tips to keep in mind
• Buy and wear approved helmets or protective head gear that fits correctly. Wear eye protection.
• Take a lesson from a qualified instructor.
• Wear appropriate clothing in layers to prevent heat loss. Layers closest to the skin should be made with materials that wick moisture away from skin.
• Remember to stay properly hydrated and to eat! Good nutrition equals good fuel.
• Know the signs of frostbite – toes and fingers are susceptible to frostbite if they get wet or sweat a lot.
• Know your limits and stop before you become tired.

A heart attack happens when there is a lack of blood flow to a part of the heart; this may cause some heart muscle to die. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot circulate blood through the body. In some kinds of heart failure, the heart is weak and cannot push blood to the parts of the body that need blood.

If you have heart failure, proper health management may prevent heart attack or stroke.
Need help?

Memorial Heart Advantage is a comprehensive range of services that includes patient education.

• My Health My Life is designed to help individuals who suffer from chronic illness learn how to manage their symptoms and live a healthier life. Classes are 2-1/2 hours each, once a week for 6 weeks and offered at no charge. Caregivers and support persons are welcome to attend. Call 509 225-3178 to register.

• Participation in a Cardiac Rehabilitation program can help speed up and stabilize the healing process, improve stamina, improve depression and lower the risk of future cardiovascular problems. Call 509-576-7650 to see if you qualify for referral.

To learn more about key factors that influence heart disease, visit yakimamemorial.org/heartcare.

Attend the Mr. West Valley Pageant and support health care for Yakima Valley kids

After months of fierce competition and fundraising, the title of Mr. West Valley will be decided on Wednesday, Feb. 24 ‑‑ pageant night at the high school. The real winners, though, are area children.

West Valley is one of five local schools participating in this year’s highly competitive Children’s Miracle Network/YouthWorks pageants to raise money for the Children’s Health Care Fund, which benefits child health care at Memorial Family of Services: Children’s Village, Memorial’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit and Memorial’s Pediatric Unit.

In the months before their school’s pageant, contestants hold a variety of fundraising events to raise money for the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Efforts culminate on pageant night, when a winner is named based on money raised, talent and other events that evening.

Mr. West Valley will be chosen by a panel of judges beginning at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. West Valley High School is located at 9800 Zier Road. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.

Since the event began in 2001, more than $800,000 has been raised for the Children’s Health Care Fund at Memorial.

Gymnastics Plus donated recently donated $1,200 to Children’s Village. Gymnasts raised money by asking people to donate their change to Children’s Village. Funds were raised from December 15 to January 15 and they set it up as a contest between the different groups. Their youngest group raised the most money and will get a pizza party as a reward for their effort. The team competed in the Charity Choice invitational on February 5-7. The teams placed 2nd in their divisions and we had many all around winners. It was a very successful weekend!